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Building a gingerbread house is a delightful holiday activity for all ages; that is, unless the gingerbread pieces fall apart or the icing doesn’t stick. For those who don’t want to bake one from scratch, a gingerbread house kit will provide most or all of the necessary ingredients to build a tasty and eye-catching decoration.
We reached out to Melissa Halme Redell, owner of The Solvang Bakery, a bakery located in Solvang, California, that makes custom gingerbread houses, for some advice on selecting a gingerbread house kit. She says, “It is always best to look for candies that will not weather too quickly or look dull when set out for display, and also look for an included piping bag—or better yet, a piping bag filled with icing, which will make it easier to decorate.”
For shoppers more interested in the end result than the building activity, Redell suggests a preassembled kit. “We recommend a house kit that is already assembled, so you can focus on decorating and having fun rather than the construction of the house. This is especially important when decorating with kids!” But for those who enjoy the building (and even the baking) process, this guide includes DIY kits as well. Read on to learn more about the best gingerbread house kits for the holiday season.
The BobVila.com Team Builds Gingerbread Houses! #shorts #gingerbreadhouse
Our Favorite Gingerbread House Kits of 2025
Gingerbread House Kit
Baketivity Baking Kit Holiday Gingerbread House Kit
Buy at AmazonFor those on the hunt for a family-friendly Secret Santa gift, the Baketivity Baking Kit Holiday Gingerbread House Kit is a fun option that will entertain kids and adults alike. This baking kit offers most of what’s needed to both bake and decorate a gingerbread house, including preportioned dry ingredients, so there’s no need to dirty measuring cups. Bakers will just need to add their own wet ingredients.
Step-by-step instructions are included, complete with illustrated instructions for kids. If that isn’t enough, scan the included QR code for a bake-along video. The entire kit comes in a bright and lovely packaged box that’s ready for gifting.
Mini Village
Wilton Mini Village Gingerbread Kit
Buy at AmazonCreate a small gingerbread village at an affordable price with the Wilton Mini Village Gingerbread Kit. This kit includes four small gingerbread houses, each with a slightly different shape. Each house is between 3.25 inches and 4 inches tall, which is smaller than a typical gingerbread house. This is an excellent pick for shoppers who would like several people to each be able to decorate their own gingerbread house.
This kit includes the gingerbread panels, candy, green fondant, two piping bags, two decorating tips, and ready-to-use white and red icing. The mini houses are charming when put together in a village setup, and the combination of green fondant with red and white icing creates a fun holiday feel.
Mini Elf House
Cookies United Elf on the Shelf Gingerbread House
Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart Buy at Blain’s Farm & FleetFor shoppers who have room for only a mini gingerbread house, this Cookies United Elf on the Shelf Gingerbread House Kit is the space-saving solution. Love Elf on the Shelf during the holiday season? Then that’s even better. This kit creates a small gingerbread house that measures 4.6 inches tall by 2.8 inches wide by 2 inches long, so it won’t take up much space at all as part of a Christmas display.
Everything is included to craft this little abode, such as the gingerbread panels, icing, candy jewels, and fruity gummies. To truly set the scene for holiday cheer, it also features a few small cutout characters, one of which is the famous Elf on the Shelf.
Candy Land Kit
Cookies United Candy Land Mini Gingerbread House Kit
Buy at AmazonIf Candy Land was a favorite childhood game, then this Cookies United Candy Land Mini Gingerbread House Kit might inspire some sweet nostalgia. This mini gingerbread house kit features bright candies—candy jewels and fruity gummies—and cutout characters inspired by the board game.
The kit includes the gingerbread panels and an icing bag; however, it’s just a small bag on which the user cuts off the corner, not a proper piping bag with a decorating tip. Still, it should be sufficient for this mini gingerbread house and works just fine for kids, who are the target audience of this kit.
Snowflake House Kit
Create-A-Treat E-Z Build Snowflake Gingerbread House Kit
Buy at WalmartThis Create-A-Treat E-Z Build Snowflake Gingerbread House Cookie Kit is designed for decorators who want a festive result without a complicated build. The house features baked, shelf-stable gingerbread panels that fit together easily, allowing you to focus more on decorating than construction. Snowflake details and classic holiday accents give the finished house a cheerful, winter-ready look that works well as a centerpiece or seasonal display.
Because the structure is straightforward and forgiving, it’s a great option for kids, first-time builders, or anyone short on time. If you want to take the final look up a notch, add your own candies or sprinkles to customize the finished house.
Small House Kit
Wilton Christmas Gingerbread Kit
Buy at WalmartThe Wilton Christmas Gingerbread Kit Petite House is a ready-to-build option that delivers classic gingerbread charm in a compact size. Pre-baked pieces eliminate the need for baking, so it’s easy to jump straight into the fun part—decorating. The petite footprint makes it a smart choice for apartments, smaller holiday tables, or anyone who wants a gingerbread project that won’t take over the kitchen.
Because the build is manageable, it’s a low-stress kit for kids and first-timers, while still giving you a finished house that looks festive on display. Add extra candies or colored icing if you want a more customized final look.
Doghouse Kit
Wilton Christmas Gingerbread Doghouse Kit
Buy at WalmartThe Wilton Christmas Gingerbread Doghouse Kit is a playful alternative to a classic gingerbread house, swapping the usual cottage silhouette for an adorable doghouse design. It includes the gingerbread panels, icing, and edible decorations, so you can build and decorate without tracking down extra supplies. The bone-shaped cookie adds a cute finishing touch that makes the whole scene feel intentional and themed.
This kit is especially fun for families, holiday parties, or pet lovers who want something a little different on their dessert table. If you’re decorating with kids, the whimsical design keeps the activity engaging—and the finished doghouse makes a charming, conversation-starting display.
Cookie Cutter Set
Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set
Buy at AmazonIf you prefer a true bake-from-scratch project, this Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set gives you the flexibility to make a custom build instead of relying on pre-made panels. With multiple cutters for house pieces and decorative accents, it helps you create consistent shapes that fit together more cleanly during assembly. The stainless-steel construction is sturdy and reusable, making it a practical pick for an annual holiday tradition.
This option is best for bakers who want full control over ingredients, flavor, and size. Pair it with royal icing and your favorite candies for a more personalized gingerbread house that tastes as good as it looks.
How We Chose the Best Gingerbread House Kits
A quality gingerbread house kit is sturdy, attractive, and—for those who plan to eat it—tasty as well. We researched over 20 gingerbread house kits, looking for features such as easy-to-build designs, fun candy options, and favorable ratings. Whether it’s for decoration or eventual consumption, a gingerbread house should look appealing. Each pick on our list is fit for display, whether it has a charming old-school look or a trendier theme.
We included a few preassembled gingerbread houses in this guide, which are an ideal option for those who only want to decorate the house, not build it. We’ve also chosen more traditional build-it-yourself kits for those also interested in the building process itself. For shoppers who want an even more hands-on process, we’ve included a few kits for baking and building a gingerbread house from scratch.
What to Consider When Choosing a Gingerbread House Kit
There are plenty of holiday situations when a gingerbread house kit can come in handy. Whether building family traditions, keeping the kids occupied for an afternoon, needing a family-friendly activity for a Christmas party, or just enjoying crafts, a gingerbread house kit can be an ideal choice. There are a few considerations to keep in mind when choosing a candy-covered abode, including the difficulty level of the kit, the included items, and the taste.
Difficulty
Gingerbread house kits can range in difficulty from baking kits that require making the gingerbread panels from scratch to completely preassembled houses that only need to be decorated. A pre-built gingerbread house kit is the best choice for shoppers who don’t have the time or patience to build the actual house. It can also be a great choice for those with children who want to avoid the frustration of broken pieces or half-built houses. Most pre-built gingerbread houses include the icing and candies, so decorating them can still be a fun activity.
Gingerbread house baking kits are on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. These kits can include just the gingerbread house molds or may include baking mixes (such as gingerbread mix and icing mix). The middle ground is the most common type of gingerbread house kit that comes with a disassembled gingerbread house, icing, and candies. Well-cut edges or well-placed notches can make these DIY kits easier to put together.
Included Items
The items included in a gingerbread house kit can vary, but the vast majority of kits come with most if not all items required to build the house: the gingerbread panels, the icing, and the candies. The biggest variation usually involves how much or the types of candies included. For ease of use, shoppers will want to look for a kit that already has the icing in a piping bag, which will prevent the need for messy transfers.
Keep in mind that some gingerbread house kits and many from-scratch baking kits won’t include icing or candies; always check the box to make sure. However, this isn’t necessarily a negative—many prefer to customize their gingerbread house with their own candy choices anyway!
Taste
Gingerbread houses are edible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll want to eat every one. Gingerbread house kits are generally made with the building and decorating process in mind, which means the panels can be pretty tough. Store-bought kits often have a shelf life of around a year, so the gingerbread may not be the freshest.
The best-tasting gingerbread kits may come directly from a bakery or a confectionery shop. Otherwise, for shoppers willing to experiment with baking, a gingerbread house baking kit will result in fresher gingerbread and even the chance to use their own gingerbread recipes.
FAQs
Bright, nostalgic, and charming, a well-decorated gingerbread house can bring lots of holiday cheer by nestling into a Christmas display or next to Christmas plants. The best gingerbread house kits are straightforward to use, but shoppers new to this holiday tradition might have some questions. Read on to learn the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Can you eat gingerbread house kits?
Yes. Gingerbread house kits are meant to be edible, but just keep in mind that some parts may not be, such as plastic holders or non-candy decorations.
How long will a gingerbread house last?
A gingerbread house can last a long time, even up to a year if it is preserved with clear lacquer. However, if you decide to eat the gingerbread house, plan to consume a homemade house within about 2 weeks and a preassembled house within a month. We recommend storing the house in an airtight container (or at least covering it)—leaving it out can lead to exposure to dust, germs, and bugs.
What is the best ingredient to keep gingerbread houses from falling apart?
Royal icing is the best choice for building gingerbread houses. It has the right consistency, and it hardens when dry to keep the house together.
